Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
Program organized related to the launch of PM Vishwakarma Yojana by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on the occasion of Vishwakarma Jayanti in Ambala, Haryana.
PM Vishwakarma Yojana focuses on empowering small artisans and craftsmen: Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, Minister of State for Rural Development, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
Important role of small artisans in local craft production and national development: Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti
Union Minister of State, while speaking on national progress, said, India is changing from an importer to an exporter.
A special program organized regarding the launch of PM Vishwakarma Yojana by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in Dwarka, New Delhi on Vishwakarma Jayanti in Ambala, Haryana. Union Minister of State for Rural Development, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti participated in this program as the chief guest. Programs related to PM Vishwakarma Yojana were organized at a total of 70 places in the country.
Addressing the program on this occasion, Union Minister of State Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti said that PM Vishwakarma Yojana has been focused on empowering small artisans and craftsmen. At the beginning of his speech, the Union Minister of State wished everyone a happy birthday of Lord Vishwakarma and Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. He said that small artisans have an important role in the production of local crafts and national development. The Union Minister of State said that 18 traditional Shilpas have been included under PM Vishwakarma, which includes blacksmiths, goldsmiths, potters, sculptors, cobblers, masons, barbers, washermen, tailors and other artisans. He informed that this scheme will provide assistance to artisans and craftsmen in rural and urban areas across India.
Describing today as historic, Union Minister of State Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti said that since 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given every skilled citizen in the country an opportunity to stand on their own feet by training them. He said that PM Vishwakarma Yojana will help in making the country self-reliant. The Union Minister of State said that as long as we do not make our citizens strong by making them stand on their feet, how can the country progress. He said that the sisters of the country can also be accommodated under the PM Vishwakarma Yojana. He said that in 2014, about 2 crore women were associated with self-help groups and today about 9.5 crore women are associated with self-help groups.
The Union Minister of State said that the children of our country are moving forward. Referring to Chandrayaan-3 mission, Union Minister of State Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti said that India has reached where no one else could. He said that India is capable of doing anything. The Union Minister of State said that the youth of the country are progressing in every corner of the world. Referring to the success achieved by the youth of Punjab in agriculture in foreign countries, he said that the soil of our country has the strength that we can succeed everywhere. Union Minister of State Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti said that with the products made by small artisans and craftsmen, we will become exporters and not importers.
Union Minister of State Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti informed that PM Vishwakarma will be fully funded by the Central Government with an outlay of Rs 13,000 crore. Under this scheme, free registration of Vishwakarmas will be done through Common Service Centers using biometric based PM Vishwakarma Portal. They will receive PM Vishwakarma certificate and identity card, basic and advanced training related skill upgradation, toolkit incentive of Rs 15,000, collateral up to Rs 1 lakh  and Rs 2 lakh  at a concessional interest rate of 5 percent. Recognition will be provided through free loan assistance, incentives for digital transactions and marketing assistance.
On this occasion Dr. Rajesh Prasad, Convenor and General Manager, State Level Bankers Committee, Haryana, Chandigarh, General Manager and Convenor, Punjab National Bank, Chandigarh, while addressing the program, told about the various schemes being run by the Government of India. Talking about the PM Vishwakarma Scheme, he said that not only the craftsmen but also those people who have the passion to do something will be inspired by it. Along with this, this scheme will also generate employment to give a new direction to the economic development of the country. He said that under the Mudra Scheme, loans worth Rs 2080 crore have been distributed so far to 1,78,078 people in the state of Haryana in the financial year 2023_24.
PNB Deputy General Manager Joginder Singh expressed his gratitude to the Minister and all the guests for attending the program. Shri Pankaj Sharma, Joint Secretary, Department of Financial Services, Government of India and Dr. Shaleen, Deputy Commissioner Ambala and other dignitaries participated in this program.